Inflatable closure sealing and retaining means



March 11, 195 v J. H. LUX ETAL I ,8 ,9

INFLATABLE CLOSURE SEALING AND RETAINING MEANS Filed Nov. 14, I955 1N VEN TORS QJAMES /-I- ZUX BYM/L TON lV-GAZZUP- A TTOIPNEYS United States Patent INFLATABLE CLOSURE SEALING AND RETAINING MEANS James H. Lux and Milton N. Gallup, Lakewood, Ohio Application November 14, 1955, Serial No. 546,648

' 4 Claims. (Cl. 20-69) This invention relates to securing and sealing means for removably retaining a closure panel in a frame structure;

In the accompanying drawings and description we have illustrated our invention as applied to a storm window which is adapted to be positioned within a window frame to serve as an insulating panel in addition to the regular window sash. However, it will be understood that our improved securing and sealing meansis also adapted for removably securing in position panels of metal, plywood or other materials wherever it may be desirable to provide a readily removable closure member for a hatch or other opening.

It is among the objects of our invention to provide an improved sealing and retaining means for storm windows or the like which may be readily attached to a panel member of glass or other material without special tools or skill. Other objects of our invention include the provision of a storm window or the like which may readily be installed and removed, which 'is light in weight and occupies a minimum of space, which may be made in any desired size, and is economical to produce and assemble. A further object of our invention is the provision in an inflatable sealing and retaining means for storm windows or the like of variable means which may readily be adjusted to provide the desired degree of venting of the space between the storm window and the regular window sash.

l The above and other objects of our invention will appear from the following description of several embodimentsthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

3 Figure 1 is an elevational view of a window frame in which a storm window incorporating our invention is installed;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the lower corners of the window installation shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a section of our improved inflatable sealing and reteaining strip member;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of our improved resilient inflatable sealing and securing strip member taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3, a section of glass being positioned in the retaining groove;

Figure 5 is an outer edge view of a section of our improved sealing strip showing the frame engaging face thereof;

Figure 6 is a detached perspective view of one form of connecting valve member for joining the ends of the inflatable tube-member; Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating a modifiedform of connecting valve member adapted to be positioned to provide varying degrees of venting of the space between a storm window and the main window sash; and 1 Figure 8 is 'a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 88 of Figure 7..

' Referring to Figure l, the window frame includes the jamb'portions 1 and 2, lintel 3, and sill 4 and may be provided with an upper sliding window sash 5 and lower sliding sash 6. As best seen in Figure 2 the window frame projects outwardly from the sash 5 and 6 in the usual manner and it is within the outwardly extending walls or the frame structure that our storm window is positioned and secured.

As illustrated the storm window consists of a singl pane of glass 7 which is cut so that it is smaller in each of its dimensions than the corresponding inside dimensions of the outwardly projecting portion of the window frame. As will appear later the storm window glass need not be cut with great accuracy but, in an average size window, would have its outer dimensions from one-half to one and one-half inches less than the corresponding dimensions of the window frame, depending on the exact sizeand type of sealing strip which is employed.

The storm window glass pane or panel 7 is provided with a continuous hollow or tubular sealing strip member S which extends around the periphery thereof with its two ends 8 and 9 (Figure 1) in spaced opposed relation. As shown in Figure 1 the strip S is so installed on the panel 7 that the gap between the ends 8 and 9 comes at the center of the bottom of the panel but it will be understood that this location of the ends might be varied.

The strip S is of rubber, plastic, or other suitable resilient material and is preferably formed by extrusion in well known manner. Thus where the term rubber is used in this specification and the appended claims it is intended to refer to and include both natural and synthetic rubber, and other resilient materials. As perhaps best seen in Figure 3, the strip S comprises a center tubular portion 10, a generally flat outer frame engaging face 11 on one side of the tubular portion and, diametrically opposite to the face 11 on the other side of the tubular portion, a pair of inwardly projecting flanges 12 and 13 which define a panel receiving notch or groove 14. The frame engaging face 11 is preferably longitudinally grooved or serrated as indicated at 15 to facilitate proper engagement thereof with the window frame and to accommodate for roughness or irregularities in the surface thereof. As seen in Figure 3, a common center line 16 between the groove 14 and the frame engaging face 11 also passes substantially through the center of the opening 10a in the tubular portion 10. This arrangement results in an inflatable seal unit which needs no metal molding or the like to support the inflatable element as the panel itself directly backs up the tubular portion of the seal strip S. v

To install the strip S on the panel 7 it is only necessary to cut a piece of the proper length to extend around the periphery of the panel, start it on the edge of the panel as at 9 and fit the groove 14 over the edge around the entire periphery of the panel 7 until the end 8 of the strip S is positioned in spaced relation to the end 9. If desired a suitable cement may be employed in the groove 14 to assist in retaining the strip in position on the panel but this is not ordinarily required as the flanges 12 and- 13 are preferably so spaced and disposed that their inherent resilience will cause them frictionally to grip the manner at the time of installation to permit bending around the corner Without buckling.

To connect the ends 8 and 9 of the tubular strip me ber S we provide a connecting valve-unit V, one form;

of which is seen in detached perspective in Figure 6 and which may be made of the same material as the tube S.

This unit comprises end portions 17 and 18 shaped andsized. to fit snugly within the opening inltheadjacent;

Patented Mar. 11, -1958 season ends of the strip S. The intermediate or center portion 19 of the valve unit V is of the same cross section as the strip S and is of a length substantially equal to the distance .between:.the...ends 8 and. :9 of zthe stripHSgon the Window; pane 7. .Theentire unit V. istubular being provided witha central a opening, 29. of somewhat smaller diameter. than the openingltla in the tube S. Atubular valvestem .21, .having. a passage therethrough, projects outwardly from. the. side wall ofthe center sectiQn19, has a threaded outer end portion..2la, .and .contains..a suitable releasable pressure retaining self-closing val e suchas the. type commonlyused impneurnatie-tires. When'the. connecting valveunit V is inserted between the ends of thestrip S .theportionsglland 18 project into-the opening .lllainzthe. striptand: arev preferably sealed therein byv a suitable rubber cement-.or-the like.

The glass panel 7 has been. originally .cut .of a size such.,that,..after the .strip tS-and the: valve unit V.,are installed thereon .butwith the-tubularportion v10 deflated, the entire unit will fit readily into. the outwardly projecting walls of thewindow frame. When; so positioned the weight of the storm window will of course be supported largely on. the portion of the strips which extends along the bottom edge thereof. While thestorm window assembly is heldinthis positionapump, forzexample an ordinary tire. pump, or other source .of compressed air is connected to the valve stem 21 andair under pressure directed into the continuous resilient tube which surrounds the storm window glass panel, causing the walls of the tubular portion 10: thereof to expand. and forcing the outeredge face 11 firmly into engagement-with the. adjacent faces of theusurrounding window frame. Ithas been determined that even though the Window frame faces flare outwardly to .a certain degree the. sealingface 11 of the strip S will conform thereto and form a weather-tight seal and also firmly hold the glass panel in position by frictional, engagement.

When it is desired to remove the storm window it is only necessary to release the valve in the stem 21, permitting the air under pressure in the tubular strip S to escape and the strip itself to contractrso that the entire assembly may be readily withdrawn.

It is vusually desirable'inistorm'window installations to provide aventfor thenspace between the storm .window and the regular window. This :is to assist in preventing condensationrnnd permit drainage of any condensation which may occur. ,Such vent may conveniently be providedtbygforming transverse, grooves 22: and 22a in the outer, face ;of the center: portion 1920f the valve unit V. It-will be understood however that if venting is not desired these grooves may be omitted.

.In Figures 7 and 8'we have illustrateda modified form of connecter and valve unit, generally indicated at V. This unitdhasra tubularbody comprising tubular .end portions23 and 24 .and a tubular center section 25. An upper flap 25, of a length so that it just reaches the under edge of the 'glasspanel 7 when vertically disposed, projects from said center-section .25. The lower flap 25" projects from the oppositev side of thecenter section 25 and is preferably of the same length or slightly longer than the lower half of the'strip S. A valve stem 26, threaded at.26 and having a passage 26 therethrough, correspondsto previouslydescribed tubular valve stem 21 and contains a similar valve which provides an inflating connection to the. central opening27.

Whenthe unit V .is positioned with the ends 23 and 24 extendingintowthe .ends..8 and 9'of the strip S, itmay be rotated about the longitudinal axis of its tubular body Within certain limits by lifting or lowering the valve stem .26. Thus in Figure 7 the unit V has'been positioned so that the upper flap '25 of the center section is spaced inwardly: slightly-from the lowere'dgeo'f the glass 7 thus providing a'smallvent-opening to the space between the stormwindow-and the regular Window. However if :the .=,unit V' "were :irotated counterclockwise "from 'the position of Figure 8 a larger vent opening would be provided and, if it were rotated clockwise to a position where the flaps 25' and 25" were vertical and aligned with the glass panel 7 substantially no vent opening would be provided. Thus with the connecting valve unit V seen in Figures 7 and 8 venting means are provided which may be adjusted from fully closedto maximum venting position.

Although we have described theillustrated embodiments of our invention in'considerable detailit will be understood that variations and; modifications may bemade in the specific cross sectional form of our resilient tubular sealing strip-and -inthe specific form of the connecting valve unit without departing.v from ,thegspirit of our invention. We do not therefore wish to be limited to the exact arrangement herein shown or described but claim as our invention all embodiments thereof coming within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Weclaim:

1. In combination with a frame structure, a panel member having an inflating valve, member extending into the. interior thereof whereby. said tubularportion of said sealing andretaining strip-may be inflated and expanded into sealing and retaining engagement withsaid frame structure.

.ZMA, storm windows or the. like comprising .a pane of.

glass, an inflatable rubber. sealing and retaining strip member extending around the Periphery of said pane with its ends spaced "apart along one edge thereof, said strip member comprising a central tubular portion, having a pair of spacedv flangesextending outwardly fromone side thereof and forming-.agroovein which the edges of said pane are disposed and a frame engaging face portion on the diametrically opposite side of said tubular portion, and a connectingvalve member extending between and secured to said ends ,of said strip member;.sa id connecting valve member. having a tubular-body connecting the ends of said tubular center portion of said strip and completing a hollow tube around the periphery of said pane and a passageconnecting, said tubular body. to the 'outside, and releasable pressure retaining valve means in said passage. through which said strip member may be inflated and inwardly expanded.

3. A storm window or the like comprising apane of glass, an inflatable rubber sealing and retaining strip member extending. around the periphery of said .pane with its-ends spaced apart along one edge thereof, said strip member. comprising a central tubular portion having a pair of spaced flanges extending outwardly from one side thereof and forming a groove in which the edges of said pane are disposed and a generally fiat frame engaging face portion on the diametrically opposite side of saidtubular portion, said face portion extending in a dime non-substantially normally to said pane and substantially-equal distances oneach side thereof, and a connecting valve member extending between and secured to said endsof-saidstrip member; said connecting valve memberhaving-a tubular body projecting into, said ends of said tubular center portion of said strip and completing the resilient tube around-said pane anda passage connecting said tubular body to the outside, and releasable pressure'retaining valvemeans in said passage through which said strip member may be inflated and-inwardly expanded.

4. A storm window or the like comprising a pane of glass, an inflatable rubber sealing and retaining strip member extending around the periphery of said pane with its ends paced apart along one edge thereof, said strip member comprising a central tubular portion having a pair of spaced flanges extending outwardly from one side thereof and forming a groove in which the edges of said pane are disposed and a generally flat frame engaging face portion on the diametrically opposite side of said tubular portion, said face portion extending in a direction substantially normally to said pane and substantially equal distances on each side thereof, and a connecting valve member extending between and secured to said ends of said strip member; said connecting valve member having a tubular body projecting into said ends of said tubular center portion of said strip and completing the resilient tube around said pane and a passage connecting References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,548,556 Ogren Apr. 10, 1951 2,700,196 Panhard Jan. 25, 1955 2,701,899 Krupp Feb. 15, 1955 2,760,791 Neubauer et al. Aug. 28, 1956 

